Ceiling Fan Installation Cost Breakdown
Let's cover some of the costs of getting a fan perfectly fit on your ceiling.
Basic Installation With Existing Wiring
If you're replacing a ceiling fan, you may be able to simply attach the new fan to the same wiring. If this is the case, a professional installation may cost between $100 and $300.
Installation Without Existing Wiring
Starting with a blank canvas? Adding wiring where no ceiling wiring exists means your electrician will have to start from scratch by opening up walls, running wires, installing boxes, and hooking up your junction box. Installing a ceiling fan without existing wiring is a big job that might cost up to $2,000.
Installing a Ceiling Fan With a Light
If you're replacing a light-fan combo with a new light-fan combo, there's a good chance you won't need to add new wiring. If you're replacing an ordinary light or fan with a new fan-light combo, be prepared to pay between $100 and $300 extra.
Installing Switches
If you've decided to have your new fan installed on your existing lightbox, you may not be able to have your fan and light on the same switch. To fix this, ask your electrician to sync the power switches by running another line, adding a bigger box, and installing a switch. Expect to add another $100 to $200 on top of installation costs for this very convenient touch.
Selecting a Fan With a Remote Control
If you don't mind spending another $150 to $300, you can purchase a fan with its own remote control that allows you to control your light and fan speed at the same time. While this is often an alternative to paying to have your wiring switched around by an electrician, it's a temporary fix.
Number of Fans
While installing more than one fan is more expensive, bundling installations can save you money on labor time and materials in the long run if you're doing a larger makeover. Why is that?
When charging hourly fees, most electricians include travel costs into the first hour only.
Next, it’s cheaper to run wires in the same room because you're only opening one set of holes for both of your new fans. You can also use one set of switches with a single box for both fans.
Ease of Access
If your electrician needs to cut holes due to limited access to wires, boxes, and switches, this will require extra labor and materials.
Cost of Ceiling Fans by Type
You'll find several types of ceiling fans on the market, from the standard five-blade model you recognize in most homes to dual-motor rotational fans for large spaces. Here are the ceiling fan installation costs for each common variety.
Standard
Standard ceiling fans cost between $50 and $300 to install. You'll find five blades made from wood, fiberboard, plastic, or metal, as they are highly customizable to your space. Many will also include a light fixture and connect to a downrod between 2 and 10 inches.
Low-Profile
Low-profile fans are ideal for rooms with ceilings under 8 feet high. These models, which also cost between $50 and $300, do not have a downrod. This feature allows the fan to hug the ceiling and connect directly to the mount on the ceiling—which is where they also get the nickname "hugger" fans or "flush-mount" fans.
Hanging Propeller
For between $150 and $300, hanging propeller fans cool off larger rooms with ceilings over 9 feet high. The blades hang on a downrod in order to circulate air closer to the living space. Downrods will typically hang around 2 to 4 feet, but can go much longer for vaulted ceilings and large outdoor pergolas.
Directional
The more complex and often stylish directional ceiling fans cost between $150 and upwards of $800, depending on their size and design. You will find models that look like traditional table fans mounted on a movable arm. Other fans include an adjustable cage at the end of a downrod. In either case, the fans are easily adjusted to the area where you need the air most.
Rotational
The most complex ceiling fans will cost between $200 and $1,500 due to their power and custom design options. Rotational fans may include a dual motor with two fans facing opposite directions, both of which can be adjusted and turned for greater coverage. The design is ideal for large spaces and adaptable for oddly shaped rooms and porches.
Additional Costs to Consider
Ceiling fans can be as unique as any other major fixture in your home, but alternatives can affect the ceiling fan installation cost as well.
Accessories
There are infinite ways to customize the look of your ceiling fan, from the color and style of the blades to the casing around the light fixture. Specialty pieces include chain extenders, shades, finials, cages, decorative downrods, and complex light fixture kits.
Outdoor vs. Indoor Fan Installation
Outdoor fan installation often costs more than indoor ceiling fans due to their ability to handle moisture. You'll pay anywhere from $70 to over $4,000 for outdoor fan installation, depending on existing wiring, the placement of the fan, and its moisture rating. Classification and rating systems designated by each company will specify if the model can handle indirect or direct contact with rain, snow, and humidity.
How Much Does It Cost to Install a New Ceiling Fan Yourself?
If you're just swapping one ceiling fan for another, the DIY price may not be much more than the retail price of your new fan. However, you may need to factor in materials like a special ladder if you're mounting your fan to a vaulted ceiling.
What if you need wiring done? In addition to being dangerous, rewiring your home on your own if you're not a licensed electrician could be a code violation. If you need to rearrange or add wiring, this goes from a simple DIY Saturday project to a task that requires professional installation.
You can also damage your ceiling (and everything below it) if there's not enough support for the weight of your new fan. It's a good idea to have the situation assessed by a pro, even if you're pretty sure you can tackle it on your own. An assessment is a lot less expensive than a ceiling restoration.
Cost of Installing a Fan Yourself vs. Hiring a Pro
For simple DIY ceiling fan replacement, you can save between $50 and $200 on the cost of labor by taking on the job yourself. However, calling a local handyperson for the basic hookup can cost as low as $60 for the job. In other words, learning how to install a ceiling fan yourself costs between $100 and $275 for the cost of the fan itself and basic tools.
As we noted above, it is not worth skipping the call to a local electrician if you need new wiring installed. The risks associated with making an error are far more expensive than calling a professional.
6 Ways to Save on the Cost of Installing a Ceiling Fan
Even if your contractors charge a flat rate for ceiling fan installation, there are some general ways to cut costs overall and from your operational costs. For example:
Install more than one ceiling fan at once to capitalize on the lower hourly rate of the contractor after the initial hour.
Choose an installation area with or close to existing wiring.
Call a handyperson for basic installation or replacement within existing wiring.
Speak with at least three contractors to compare installation quotes.
Purchase your fan off-season for lower prices and installation deals.
Consider an Energy Star-rated fan for long-term savings on your utility bills.
